Ho Chi Minh City seeks extension to visa waivers to boost tourism

NDO/VNA – Ho Chi Minh City wants the central government to extend the visa waiver period for tourists from key foreign markets in order to increase Vietnam’s attractiveness for foreign visitors.

It has proposed that the Government extend the visa-free stay from the current 15 days to 21 or 30 days for those arriving from countries such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Denmark, the Republic of Korea, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Spain.

At present, the nationals of 22 countries and territories do not have to apply for a visa to enter the country for short stays.

The city also suggested waiving visas for tourists from five western European countries – the UK, France, German, Italy and Spain – for five years at a time instead of one year and for tourists from the visa-waiver countries re-entering Vietnam within 30 days of their last exit.

The number of tourists from the five western European countries has been increasing at a rate of 14% a year since the visa-free policy took effect two years ago.

Last year the city welcomed more than 6.38 million foreign visitors and has set a target of receiving 7.5 million in 2018.